Thomas williams



(No Model.)

T. WILLIAMS.

BANJO.

No. 288,905. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

PE E

U'Niiten STATES ATENT Orrica.

THOMAS \VILLIAMS, OF BROOKLYX, XE\V YORK.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,905, dated November 20, 1883. Application filed November 21, 1882. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS lVILL'rAns, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in banjos; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of devices hereinafter described in detail, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a top or face view of a banjo embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the bridge. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken in the line it x of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the tail-piece, taken in the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail View, hereinafter referred to.

The head or drum A may be made of either wood or metal, or any other suitable material. Instead ofbeing cylindrical inform, the drum is expanded or enlarged below the skin Gin a dome-like form, and it is provided with a back or bottom, B, which is preferably of wood, and is adapted to be removed and replaced at pleasure by means of a sectional serew-thread or other suitable means. Around the periphery of the drum or head a number of ventholes, (I, are provided, said vent-holes being nearer the back or bottom B than the skin 0. By expanding the drum or head in the form and manner described, a large and longgrained soundingboard is obtained, and by locating the vent-holes below the center or nearer the back bottom or sounding-board than the skin I avoid that boxy or hollow sound which otherwise would exist in a closedback banjo of cylindrical form with ventholes for the radiation of tone near or at the top. The finger-board E has its upper surface rounded or arched, as shown in Fig. 5, instead offlat, as heretofore. This construction greatly facilitates execution. The tail-piece G has its front end provided'with a shoulder or rabbet, running transversely across the upper surface, and behind this shoulder is a transverse trough or gutter, 9-. The holes for the strings are made from the gutter g through the shoulder 9 toward the front end of the tail-piece, slightly inclined downward. iy this construction provision is made for easily inserting the strings without removing the tail-piece, and they are also brought nearer the skin, thereby making a firmer pressure upon the bridge. If desired, the gutter 1/ may be covered with an ornamental removable metal plate, which completely conceals the knots in the ends of the strings. The bridge His provided with four bearings or feet, 71 72 one at end and two near the center, as shown in Fig. 4.. By this construction a strong and yet light bridge is produced with only two bearings, and a good conductor of tone and vibration is secured. The skin 0 is surrounded outside of the head A by a hoop, K, in the usual manner, which hoop is held by a fiat plate or strip, J The upper end of this plate is formed into a hook for engagement with the top edge of the hoop K, and its lower end is perforated and receives a hook on the upper end of a short rod, L, the lower end of which is screw-threaded and provided wit-h a nut, Z. The rod passes through the head A and receives the nut on the inner surface of the head. \Yhen the head or drumis made of wood, it may bere-enforced by a hoop or band, M, as shown in Fi 1, 2, and 3, in which case the plates J and rods L pass through slots at in said hoop M, as shown in Fig. When the drum is made of metal, the hoop M may be dispensed with, and in lieu thereof each rod passes through a box-like bracket, 1, secured to the inner surface of the drum, as shown in Fig. 7. By this construction and arrangement of the hooked plates and connections all warping and straining of the instrument is prevented, and the skin is held firmly and uniformly in place. The rod L is hooked to the plate J from the inner side thereof, whereby the pulling-strain is directly under and in line with the width or thickness of the skiirhoop.

I am aware that a banjo has been provided with a domeshaped head; also, that a rim secured to a banjo-head has been adjustably held in place. upon a ring having vertical passages, through which pass hooks that engage the rim, and are adjustable by nutsin the vertical passages of the ring,- and that the rim of a 2 esemos as described.

2. The combination, with the dome-shaped shell or drum A, having a removable back, B, I 5 and hoop K, of hooks J and L, nut Z, and the re-enforcing hoop or band M, provided with slots m, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I a'tfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WILLIAMS.

\Vitnesses:

'lnos. H. WILLiL-ms, LOUIS L. GOLDMANN. 

